The Official Conference Realignment Rumors Thread

[Greg Pappas]

As much as Paterno might like the idea of playing the old eastern independents regularly (he actually proposed a conference like that before the Big East decided to focus on basketball) I doubt Penn State would even give a split-second thought to leaving the Big Ten....at least not in our lifetimes.

And the ACC will definitely have to exercise patience if they want a shot at Notre Dame. The Catch-22 is that as long as ND has a conference for their other sports, and BCS access, they won't join a conference. On the other hand, the ACC taking Rutgers and UConn could be the move that would ultimately set in motion the chain of events that would force ND to do that....but the ACC would already have 16 teams. I think that's a big reason why the Big Ten is sitting so still for all of this....they'll wait as long as it takes to be in position to add ND.

I agree on all points... however I think that while it's unlikely that the ACC would broach the idea of going to 18, it is still a viable option. Imagine adding UConn, Rutgers, AND then grabbing up Penn State and Notre Dame. Okay, okay, wake me up.

[Birds of B'more]

Imagine adding UConn, Rutgers, AND then grabbing up Penn State and Notre Dame. Okay, okay, wake me up.

That would be a sick conference that could almost write a blank check as far as media rights.

[Greg Pappas]

That would be a sick conference that could almost write a blank check as far as media rights.

I'd approach both with that very concept in mind... if they prefer having Rutgers and UConn in the mix (I know I would).

1 Boston College
2 Connecticut
3 Maryland
4 Notre Dame
5 Penn State
6 Pittsburgh
7 Rutgers
8 Syracuse
9 Virginia

1 Clemson
2 Duke
3 Florida State
4 Georgia Tech
5 Miami
6 NC State
7 North Carolina
8 Virginia Tech
9 Wake Forest

[Birds of B'more]

I'd approach both with that very concept in mind... if they prefer having Rutgers and UConn in the mix (I know I would).

1 Boston College
2 Connecticut
3 Maryland
4 Notre Dame
5 Penn State
6 Pittsburgh
7 Rutgers
8 Syracuse
9 Virginia

1 Clemson
2 Duke
3 Florida State
4 Georgia Tech
5 Miami
6 NC State
7 North Carolina
8 Virginia Tech
9 Wake Forest

You would have a presence in every major market on the east coast, and be the sole presence (as far as BCS teams go) in most of the really big ones....Atlanta and the Florida markets being the only real competition. Even in the ones that aren't big on college sports, like NYC and Boston, Notre Dame has a sizable fanbase in those areas to help make up for what BC, Syracuse, UConn and Rutgers don't bring by themselves. Not to mention the Irish are the dominant team in the Chicago area too.

Heck, instead of rights payments from ESPN, the ACC could almost demand an ownership stake in the WWL's networks from Disney Corp with a lineup like that. (j/k.......or maybe not )

[Greg Pappas]

You would have a presence in every major market on the east coast, and be the sole presence (as far as BCS teams go) in most of the really big ones....Atlanta and the Florida markets being the only real competition. Even in the ones that aren't big on college sports, like NYC and Boston, Notre Dame has a sizable fanbase in those areas to help make up for what BC, Syracuse, UConn and Rutgers don't bring by themselves. Not to mention the Irish are the dominant team in the Chicago area too.

Heck, instead of rights payments from ESPN, the ACC could almost demand an ownership stake in the WWL's networks from Disney Corp with a lineup like that. (j/k.......or maybe not )

It (the broadened ACC) would truly be a Super Conference.

[PrivateO]

Louisville to Big 12?

GSwaim BigTime TV/Radio
A trusted #Big12 source tells me tonight that Louisville was offered Friday afternoon. No word on other offers. #CardNation
21 hours ago

GSwaim BigTime TV/Radio
Other than Louisville offer, I have heard chatter about Cincinnati & BYU, but my sources not ready to verify the offer has been made yet.
19 hours ago

GSwaim BigTime TV/Radio
Waiting on news as soon as this week from both #Louisville & #BYU camps, and possibly the #Bearcats. #Big12 #CardNation bit.ly/ocwujk
1 hour ago

GSwaim BigTime TV/Radio
"@KW1KC: @GSwaim Assessment of #Louisville to #Big12? How high up is your source?" // The UL info comes from the B12 side.
1 hour ago

GSwaim BigTime TV/Radio
"@bamaD77: @GSwaim Is the Big 12 actively pursuing #WVU ?" // wish I could report they were, but no evidence to that at all.
1 hour ago

FWIW, message boards that follow this stuff have said this guy has been wrong in the past. Take it with a grain.

[Greg Pappas]

Louisville to Big 12?



FWIW, message boards that follow this stuff have said this guy has been wrong in the past. Take it with a grain.

There are many possibilities, and naturally when you look at the changes in the conference structures, WVU, Louisville and Cincinnati would be leftover, along with TCU and South Florida, from the Big East. TCU should get a Big 12 invite, but Texas may be blocking it.

[PrivateO]

@973espn97.3 ESPN FM
Hearing there will be a press conference on Wed to announce that #WVU will be a member of the #SEC

@GoldAndBlueZoneGold And Blue Zone
97.3 ESPN radio saying it was 10-2 vote for WVU to SEC. Vandy and South Carolina voted against WVU #wvu

And the Big East comes crumbling down...

[Greg Pappas]

And the Big East comes crumbling down...

I hope this is true... WVU to the SEC is a good fit.

[andrewochs615]

WVU to the SEC would be awesome, however the first couple years in the SEC would be rough

[Greg Pappas]

It appears this was just a rumor started by WVU fans... should get confirmation soon.

[CSB Jack]

It appears this was just a rumor started by WVU fans... should get confirmation soon.

I have heard elsewhere that Big XII and SEC both turned down WVU, but that was on a message board posting of a tweet from a source of unconfirmed reliability. I'll believe WVU in the SEC when I see it.

[Birds of B'more]

Wilner is an extremely reliable source when it comes to anything involving the Pac-12. Lately when it comes the Big XII stuff, he's been hit or miss....but he does have sources, so I would be confident that there is more to this than some fan just making stuff up.

@wilnerhotline
Jon Wilner
Hearing from sources that Big 12 pursuit of Louisville heating up, Air Force and Navy have offers from Big East.

@wilnerhotline
Jon Wilner
Sources: B12 not hot on TCU. Longhorns don't want Frogs (never have) and Okl/Kan schools don't want another Texas team

@wilnerhotline
Jon Wilner
B12 bracing for Mizzou to leave, considering a plan to add 4 schools: BYU, Boise, WVU and Ville. Many steps btwn here and there, of course

@wilnerhotline
Jon Wilner
To clarify: I have not been told that Mizzou is leaving. I have been told B12 is preparing in case Mizzou leaves and it needs 4 schools

[PrivateO]

I'm kinda surprised at Boise St. being one of the 4 (if Mizzou leaves). I would have thought Cincinnati or USF would be better choices.

Still don't see any reason why Navy (or Air Force) would want to play football in the Big East. If TCU doesn't head to the Big XII (and the Big East gets raided by them which will undoubtedly happen), they will return to MWC.

[Greg Pappas]

Much as I expected the ACC to be proactive, I anticipate that the Big 10 may sneak in here and grab Missouri and one other school... be that Kansas or Rutgers. They cannot sit back and watch as the other strong conferences begin the push to 16. It seems to me that the Big 10 will carefully consider blocking the SEC from taking in one of the few remaining viable options for the Big 10. Missouri to the Big 10 makes too much sense. If the SEC sweeps in and secures Mizzou, then watch out for the B10 to strike next. Rutgers and UConn could be their targets.

EDIT... Don't rule out Oklahoma to the B10 as well.